NGO: Nearly 200 women are branded witches and killed

Citing National Crime Bureau statistics, a Dehradun-based
NGO brought to light the unruly fact that nearly 200 women in India are killed for
practising witchcraft.

Jharkhand alone has nearly 50-60 witchcraft-related murders
every year, followed by Andhra Pradesh, where the number is around 30, while in Haryana
and Orissa about 25-30 women are branded as witches and killed.

‘Jharkhand is not the only state where women are facing barbaric attacks in the name of witchcraft. Such incidents are common in Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana,’ said Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK) Chairman Avdhash Kaushal .

In the past 15 years, more than 2,500 women were killed after
being accused of practising witchcraft, according to a study conducted by RLEK. ‘It is very sad that women are still being killed rampantly
after being declared witches. Majority of these incidents are not reported in
the media,’ added Kaushal.

He said a national legislation was needed in order to overcome the menace.